V2X Wins US Navy KC-130J Survivability Upgrade Contract

V2X has secured a US Navy contract to support upgrades to aircraft survivability systems on Marine Corps KC-130J tanker and transport aircraft.

Issued by the Naval Air Systems Command, the award covers integration of the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system on multiple KC-130Js.

The LAIRCM is designed to protect aircraft against infrared-guided threats, including heat-seeking missiles, by detecting incoming launches and automatically deploying countermeasures.

A multi-role variant of the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, the KC-130J is used for aerial refueling, cargo transport, troop movement, medical evacuation, and expeditionary support missions.

The work will be carried out at V2X’s facility in Crestview, Florida, which includes a fully instrumented 8,000-foot (2,438-meter) runway and more than 500,000 square feet (46,450 square meters) of manufacturing, production, and assembly space across multiple hangars. 

The contract adds to a broader defense portfolio for the Virginia-based company.

Earlier this year, V2X secured a role under the Pentagon’s $25-billion Advanced Technology Support Program 5, a contracting vehicle supporting engineering and technology work across government agencies.

The program covers technical services including system modernization, prototyping, integration, testing, AI-related initiatives, and efforts to address aging microelectronics.

In 2025, the company unveiled Tempest, a mobile counter-drone platform developed for US Army requirements.

The system uses dual launchers firing Longbow missiles against short- and medium-range drone threats and incorporates a “shoot-and-scoot” capability that rapidly repositions after engagement to reduce exposure to counterfire.